Image erasing method that selectively decolors a sheet based on user information encoded on the sheet

ABSTRACT

An image erasing method includes reading a sheet having an image printed thereon with decolorable colorant and an owner information image printed thereon with decolorable colorant. The method further includes identifying a first owner information based on the owner information image, and receiving a second owner information. The method further includes determining a correlation between a user corresponding to the first owner information and a user corresponding to the second owner information. The method further includes selectively controlling a decoloring unit to decolor the image and the owner information image based on the correlation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/145,695, filed on Dec. 31, 2013, the entire contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image erasingapparatus, and an image erasing method.

BACKGROUND

A decoloring apparatus configured to decolor a colorant from a sheet onwhich an image is formed using a decolorable colorant and in which thenumber of sheets on which the colorant is decolored is counted, and theamount of a reduction in environmental burdens is displayed based on thenumber of the sheets on which the colorant is decolored is known in therelated art. In addition, a decoloring apparatus including a cardreader, in which the card reader stores the number of colorant-decoloredsheets for each user authenticated by an ID card, and an environmentalload contribution ratio is displayed for each user is known. Anenvironmental contribution supporting apparatus is also known in whichthe number of saved sheets of a group to which a user belongs iscalculated from the number of reduced sheets for the group to give ascore regarding a reduction in environmental burdens.

In the image erasing apparatus in which the number of colorant-decoloredsheets is controlled for each user or group, a method of counting up,whenever an image is erased, an erasing counter based on userinformation or group information which is authenticated during use ofthe image erasing apparatus is generally used.

However, in such image erasing apparatus, it is impossible to determinewhether or not an authenticated operator is the owner of an image. Inthe image erasing apparatus, when an image is erased, it is impossibleto determine whether or not the erased image belongs to a user or group(hereinafter, also referred to as “owner”) that prints the image.Therefore, there is a problem in that, for example, even if anotherowner erases an image on a sheet, an erasing counter of theauthenticated user or group is counted up. If a sheet on which an imageof another owner is formed or a sheet of another owner which is mixedwith sheets of the owner passes through the image erasing apparatus, theimage on the sheet may be erased.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an image erasingapparatus according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a decoloring processusing the image erasing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of data in a storageunit of the image erasing apparatus according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An image erasing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises areading unit configured to read a sheet having an image printed thereonwith decolorable colorant and an owner information image printed thereonwith decolorable colorant, and to identify a first owner informationbased on the owner information image. The apparatus further comprises adecoloring unit configured to decolor the image and the ownerinformation image on the sheet read by the reading unit and anauthenticating unit configured to receive a second owner information.The apparatus further comprises a determining unit configured todetermine a correlation between a user corresponding to the first ownerinformation and a user corresponding to the second owner information,and an erasing controller configured to selectively control thedecoloring unit to decolor the image and the owner information imagebased on the correlation.

Hereinafter, an image erasing apparatus and an image erasing methodaccording to embodiments will be described referring to FIGS. 1 to 3. Inthe respective drawings, the same components are represented by the samereference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an image erasingapparatus according to one embodiment. The image erasing apparatusaccording to the embodiment includes a reading unit 10, a decoloringunit 11, and a control panel 12. The reading unit 10 reads a sheet onwhich an image and a two-dimensional code (owner informationimage)—including user information or group information forauthenticating an owner of the image (first owner information)—areformed. The two-dimensional code is used to identify the userinformation or group information. The decoloring unit 11 decolors acolorant of the sheet read by the reading unit 10. The control panel 12displays the number of sheets on which the colorant is decolored by thedecoloring unit 11. The image includes page contents such as letters,sentences, drawings, and pictures which are printed in a page. Thetwo-dimensional code refers to a matrix code such as QR code (registeredtrademark) or a text string. The image described herein is printed onthe sheet using a decolorable colorant in response to an instructionfrom a user terminal such as PC to a multifunctional peripheral (MFP).The image is created and printed by a user, or is printed based on afile distributed by another person or based on a page downloaded fromthe Internet.

Moreover, the image erasing apparatus according to the embodimentfurther includes a card reading unit 14 and an authenticating unit 15.The card reading unit 14 reads information included in an IC card 13 ofan operator to output this information as user information or groupinformation (second owner information). The authenticating unit 15authenticates the operator based on the user information or groupinformation output from the card reading unit 14 or from the controlpanel 12. The image erasing apparatus further includes a determiningunit 16 and an erasing controller 17. The determining unit 16 determineswhether or not the decoloring unit 11 is to decolor the colorant of theimage on the sheet, based on the user information or group informationauthenticated by the authenticating unit 15 and the user information orgroup information obtained from the image on the sheet. The erasingcontroller 17 controls the decoloring unit 11 to decolor the colorant ofthe image on the sheet based on a determination result of thedetermining unit 16 regarding whether or not to decolor the colorant.The image erasing apparatus includes a main controller 22, an erasingcounter 23, and a storage unit 41. The main controller 22 controls theauthenticating unit 15, the determining unit 16, and the erasingcontroller 17 to function and performs the overall control. The erasingcounter 23 counts the number of sheets on which the colorant isdecolored by the decoloring unit 11. The storage unit 41 stores a listof plural users, a list of plural groups, and an erasing log for eachuser or each group. The image erasing apparatus further includes a sheetfeeding unit 24, a sheet carrying unit 25, and a sheet discharging unit26 The sheet carrying unit 25 carries the sheet, which is fed by thesheet feeding unit 24, to the reading unit 10 and the decoloring unit 11and discharges the sheet through a discharge port (not illustrated)while carrying or stopping the sheet. The sheet discharging unit 26 isprovided at the discharge port and discharges a sheet on which thecolorant is decolored or a sheet on which the colorant is not decolored.

The reading unit 10 scans a sheet surface on which the image and thetwo-dimensional code are printed, recognizes the image from a scanoutput result to extract the two-dimensional code, and analyzes thetwo-dimensional code to identify the user information. Thetwo-dimensional code is positioned, for example, on a blank space or amargin of a printed page. The size of a square surrounding thetwo-dimensional code is greater than the dimension of which the imagecan be recognized and is less than the dimension that causes thetwo-dimensional code to be out of a page margin or the like. The userinformation refers to information for identifying an individual as animage owner, for example, refers to a user ID. The group informationrefers to information for identifying a group such as a department, anoffice, or a company to which a user belongs, for example, refers to adepartment ID. The reading unit 10 includes an image scanner and aprocessor for executing an application program. The processor extracts aposition specifying element of the two-dimensional code from the scanoutput image and determines the position of the two-dimensional codebased on the position specifying element.

The decoloring unit 11 heats the sheet, on which an image is formed bythe MFP using a decolorable toner, to decolor the toner. The decoloringunit 11 includes, for example, a heating unit, a roller, and a mechanismfor pressing the roller against the heating unit to be in contact witheach other and heats the colorant along with the sheet to a decoloringtemperature, which is determined by the toner, to be decolored. Theheating unit faces a sheet surface. The roller is arranged opposite theheating unit. The sheet is carried while being interposed at a nipportion between the heating unit and the roller. Toner particles of thedecolorable toner include a color material and a binder resin. The colormaterial is obtained, for example, by encapsulating a color-developingcompound, a developer, a decolorable temperature controller, and thelike. The binder resin binds the color materials to each other.

The control panel 12 notifies the main controller 22 of user informationor group information which is directly input by an operator. The controlpanel 12 includes an operating unit 27, a display 28, a panel CPU 29, aROM 30, and a RAM 31. The operating unit 27 converts a key inputregarding the user information and the like, a selection operation, anda condition setting into signals. The display 28 displays the number ofsheets on which the colorant is decolored along with the userinformation or group information. The panel CPU 29, the ROM 30, and theRAM 31 drive and control the operating unit 27 and the display 28.

The IC card 13 is a radio medium for identifying individuals and isequipped with an IC chip 32 (or an RFID chip). The card reading unit 14includes an antenna 33, a reading unit CPU 34, and a ROM 35. The antennaperforms near field communication with the IC chip 32, which is built inthe IC card 13, through electromagnetic induction or radio wavetransmission and reception. The reading unit CPU 34 extracts the userinformation and the like from data signals, which are demodulated by theantenna 33, and outputs the user information and the like. The ROM 35stores a program.

The authenticating unit 15 authenticates a user who uses the imageerasing apparatus, based on a pre-stored list file of users or groups.The determining unit 16 notifies the control panel 12 of a resultregarding the number of sheets on which the colorant is decolored andthe number of sheets on which the colorant is not decolored with respectto the number of sheets fed. The erasing controller 17 controls theerasing counter 23 to be counted up based on a determination result ofthe determining unit 16 in which the user information input from thecard reading unit 14 matches with the user information input into thecontrol panel 12. The erasing controller 17 controls the sheet carryingunit 25 to discharge the sheet without controlling the decoloring unit11 to decolor the colorant of the image, based on a determination resultin which the user information input from the card reading unit 14 doesnot match with the user information input into the control panel 12.

The main controller 22 verifies the user information or groupinformation which is input for authentication through the card readingunit 14. The main controller 22 can read information from the storageunit 41 in which names of plural users and names of groups to which theusers belong are stored. Each user name is associated with one or moregroup names. The storage unit 41 is, for example, a hard disk drive or asilicon disk drive. The main controller 22 includes a main CPU 18 and aROM 19, wherein the ROM 19 stores a program which allows the main CPU 18to function as the authenticating unit 15, the determining unit 16, andthe erasing controller 17. The main controller 22 includes a work RAM 20and a non-volatile memory (NVRAM) 21. The NVRAM 21 stores determinationcondition information for determining whether for the sheet to be reusedor rejected and setting temperature information of the decoloring unit11. The main controller 22 is connected to a network communication unit37 for authentication using an external authenticating device 36. Themain controller 22 transmits the user information or group information,which is input from the card reading unit 14, to the authenticatingdevice 36 and can acquire an authentication result from theauthenticating device 36. The network communication unit 37 includes acommunication unit CPU 38, a LAN port 39, and a ROM 40 which areprovided for communicating with the main controller 22 and theauthenticating device 36.

When the image erasing apparatus according to the embodiment having theabove-described configuration is turned on, the main controller 22displays a log-in screen on the control panel 12. The image erasingapparatus may require a user to input a login ID and a password throughthe control panel 12.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a decoloring processin the image erasing apparatus. After a user is logged in, the controlpanel 12 displays a screen for encouraging the user to holdup the ICcard 13 for the decoloring process or a screen for encouraging the userto input the user information. In ACT A1, first, the authenticating unit15 of the image erasing apparatus authenticates authentication targetinformation (user information or group information). In ACT A2, theauthenticating unit 15 determines whether the authentication of the userinformation received from the card reading unit 14 or the userinformation directly input into the control panel 12 succeeds or fails.In ACT A2, if the authentication succeeds, the authenticating unit 15allows the control panel 12 to display the authentication success, andthe process proceeds to ACT A3 through YES route. If the authenticationfails, the authenticating unit 15 allows the control panel 12 to displaythe authentication failure, and the process returns to ACT A1 through NOroute.

In ACT A3, the image erasing apparatus starts the input of an imagewhich will be erased. In ACT A4, the reading unit 10 determines whetheror not a scanned image includes the authentication target information.If the scanned image includes the authentication target information, theprocess proceeds to ACT A5 through YES route based on the determinationresult of the reading unit 10. In ACT A5, the reading unit 10 analyzesthe authentication target information.

Next, in ACT A6, the determining unit 16 determines whether or not theuser information which is recognized through the image analysis matcheswith the user information which is authenticated in ACT A2. If thedetermination result is a match, the process proceeds to ACT A7 throughYES route. In ACT A7, the determining unit 16 (or the main controller22) counts up the erasing counter linked to the corresponding userinformation or group information. In ACT A8, the decoloring unit 11decolors the colorant. In ACT A9, the sheet carrying unit 25 dischargesthe sheet, on which the colorant is decolored, to the sheet dischargingunit 26. The control panel 12 displays the completion of the decoloringprocess and displays a result of the erasing counter 23 along with theuser information. The control panel 12 may simultaneously displayinformation of a group to which the user belongs and an actual result ofthis group regarding the total number of sheets on which the colorant isdecolored. The image erasing apparatus finishes the process when theuser logs out. In ACT A4, if the reading unit 10 determines that thescanned image does not include the authentication target information,the process proceeds to ACT A9 through NO route. In ACT A9, the imageerasing apparatus discharges the sheet without decoloring the coloranton the sheet. In ACT A6, if the determination result is a mismatch, theprocess proceeds to ACT A9 through NO route. In ACT A9, the imageerasing apparatus discharges the sheet without decoloring the coloranton the sheet.

If plural sheets are fed batchwise to the sheet feeding unit 24, theimage erasing apparatus repeats the processes from the ACT A3 to ACT A9.After the authentication using the IC card 13 succeeds, the determiningunit 16 may store the user information authenticated by the IC card 13to determine whether or not the authenticated user information matcheswith the user information in the image whenever the sheet is read.Alternatively, after the authentication using the IC card 13 isperformed for each sheet of the plural sheets, the determining unit 16may determine whether or not the authenticated user information matcheswith the user information in the image in order to perform strictmanagement. One of the above processes is selected by the control panel12. If the processes from ACT A3 to ACT A9 are completed, the controlpanel 12 displays: the completion of the decoloring process, the numberof sheets on which the colorant is decolored during the log-in session,the number of sheets on which the colorant is not decolored during thelog-in session, the value of the erasing counter 23, and the userinformation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a log example of the storage unit 41 ofthe image erasing apparatus according to the embodiment. Major elementsof a log 42 include, as items, “User ID” indicating the userinformation; “Department ID” indicating the group information; “StartTime and Date” and “End Time and Date” of the decoloring process; “Size”indicating the size of the sheet; “Number of Sheets Fed” indicating thenumber of sheets which are fed; “Erasing Counter Value” identical to thenumber of sheets on which the colorant is decolored; and “Number ofSheets On Which Colorant Is Not Decolored” indicating the number ofsheets which are discharged based on the determination result of “NoImage” or “Mismatch”. These items associate with process serial number“No.” For examples, the erasing counter values of users having user IDs“12345”, “32158”, “25871”, “56954”, and “53548” are “2”, “34”, “63”, and“37”, respectively. The total erasing counter value of a departmenthaving department ID “0001” to which the 5 users belong is recorded as137 which is the sum of the erasing counter values of the users. Theerasing counter value of a user having user ID “15236” which belongs toanother department is recorded as 50. The erasing counter values arecontrolled for each user and each group.

As described above, only when the authentication target informationobtained from the image matches with the authentication targetinformation obtained from the IC card 13 or the like, the colorant isdecolored, and the erasing counter 23 is counted up. The image erasingapparatus authenticates an owner of an image on a sheet to specify theowner, authenticates an operator, and decolors a colorant on the sheetwhen determining that the owner is intended to erase the image. Afterobtaining owner information of an operator through the IC card 13 first,owner information in an image may be obtained to determine whether ornot the owner information matches with one another.

With such a configuration, only when an authenticated user or grouperases a printed image on a sheet, the erasing counter is counted up.Therefore, the erasing counter 23 can be appropriately controlled.

In the image erasing apparatus and the image erasing method according tothe embodiments, the authentication of an owner of an image on a sheetand the authentication of an operator of the image erasing apparatus areperformed. Then, only when these authentication results match with eachother, a colorant on the sheet is decolored. Accordingly, an actualresult regarding the number of sheets on which the colorant is decoloredcan be reliably controlled by a user linked to the image. In addition,the user can reject the decoloring process of a sheet on which an imageis printed by another user or group such that an image of another useris not erased. Therefore, an inappropriate use form can be prevented.For example, the number of sheets on which the colorant is decolored isnot counted up by an image on a sheet of another user. In the otherwords, even if a sheet on which an image of the user is formed is mixedwith sheets of another user or another department, the colorant of theimage on the sheet of the user is not erroneously decolored by anotheruser, and the number of sheets on which the colorant is decolored is notcounted up by another user.

By operating the control panel 12, the erasing controller 17 may controlthe number of sheets on which the colorant is decolored to betransferred between users. For example, if each group attempts toachieve the number of saved sheets, the numbers of sheets on which thecolorant is decolored can be averaged between users which belong to onegroup.

(First Modification Example)

An image erasing apparatus according to a first modification example ofthe embodiment has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1. In theimage erasing apparatus according to the embodiment, whether to decolorthe colorant or not is determined based on the authentication of theuser. However, the decoloring process may be allowed to be performeddepending on each group. The determining unit 16 compares a departmentname (first group name) with another department name (second group name)to determine whether or not these department names match with eachother. The first group name is obtained from the storage unit 41 usinguser information or group information for authentication, which wasinput into the card reading unit 14. The second group name is obtainedfrom the storage unit 41 using user information or group information forauthentication included in an image. When the user decolors a coloranton a sheet which is printed by himself or herself and when the userdecolors a colorant on a sheet which is printed by another user of thesame department, the determining unit 16 outputs a determination resultindicating a match. The erasing controller 17 controls the decoloringunit 11 to decolor the colorant based on the determination result of amatch.

As a result, the user can decolor the colorant on a sheet of anotheruser which belongs to the same group, and a user of another group is notallowed to decolor the colorant on the sheet. For example, plural usersin each department can control the erasing counter value, therebyusability is improved.

(Second Modification Example)

An image erasing apparatus according to a second modification examplealso has the same configuration as that of FIG. 1. In theabove-described embodiment, the two-dimensional code indicating an ownerof an image is printed on a sheet. However, the two-dimensional code mayinclude information of properties such as a sheet printing date, anexpiration date, a sheet printing place, and a sheet content. Thereading unit 11 extracts the information of these properties anddetermines whether or not a decoloring process is prohibited based onthe information of the properties. For example, the determining unit 16determines whether an image is in an erasing prohibition period or notbased on a comparison result of the expiration date, the sheet printingdate, and the system time. The erasing controller 17 discharges a sheetwithout decoloring a colorant on the sheet before the expiration of thisperiod, and decolors the colorant on the sheet and discharges the sheetafter the expiration of the period. As a result, the document managementcan be performed more strictly.

The determining unit 16 may set default settings for erasing conditionsdepending on each sheet printing place such as a floor or an area wherethe MFP is installed. For example, a usage can be adopted in which asheet which is printed in a head office cannot be erased in a branchoffice or a business office. In addition, a usage can also be adopted inwhich the decoloring process for sheets printed in a floor or an areawhere an outsider can enter is allowed, whereas the decoloring processfor sheets printed in a management target floor or area is prohibited.That is, an existing confidentiality management can be operationallyreinforced. Regarding the content itself of the printed sheet,prohibition information of decoloring process may be included in thetwo-dimensional code.

In the above-described embodiment, for example, an image and the ownerinformation image such as a two-dimensional code are printed on the samesurface of the sheet. However, a mechanism for inverting front and backsurfaces of a sheet may be provided, or the owner information image maybe provided for both front and back surfaces of a sheet such that theimage erasing apparatus can decolor the colorant on a sheet in which animage and the owner information image are formed on different surfacesthereof. As the two-dimensional code, a stack type code in which pluralone-dimensional barcodes are vertically stacked may be used instead ofthe matrix code. As the owner information image, a mark, an icon, or aseal indicating an owner (user or group) may also be used. As the ownerinformation image, a plain text string or an encrypted text string mayalso be used. In this case, the reading unit 10 has a function ofdecrypting the encrypted text string. The erasing counter 23 may bemounted on the decoloring unit 11 or the main controller 22. As the ICcard 13 and the card reading unit 14, a magnetic card or a magneticreader may be used instead of the radio type. Even if the image erasingapparatus according to the embodiment is modified as described above,the superiority of the image erasing apparatus according to theembodiment does not deteriorate.

Before ACT A1 of FIG. 2, the authenticating unit 15, the storage unit41, or the main controller 22 updates a list of the user information orgroup information to be authenticated. For the update, a USB memory maybe used, or a file containing a list of the user information or groupinformation to be authenticated may be downloaded from a managementserver apparatus through the network communication unit 37.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image erasing method comprising: reading asheet having an image printed thereon with decolorable colorant and anowner information image printed thereon with decolorable colorant,identifying a first owner information based on the owner informationimage; receiving a second owner information; determining whether todecolor the image based on a correlation between a user corresponding tothe first owner information and a user corresponding to the second ownerinformation; and selectively controlling a decoloring unit to decolorthe image and the owner information image based on the determination. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the user corresponding to thefirst owner information is a group and the user corresponding to thesecond owner information is an individual, and the user corresponding tothe first owner information is determined to be the same as the usercorresponding to the second owner information if the individual is amember of the group.
 3. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: counting a number of sheets on which the image and the ownerinformation image is decolored when the user corresponding to the firstowner information is determined to be the same as the user correspondingto the second owner information.
 4. The method according to claim 3,further comprising: displaying the number of sheets counted.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising: discharging the sheetthrough a discharge port, wherein if the user corresponding to the firstowner information is determined to not be the same as the usercorresponding to the second owner information, the decoloring unit iscontrolled to not decolor the image and the owner information image. 6.The method according to claim 5, further comprising: displaying a numberof sheets discharged and not decolored.
 7. The method according to claim1, further comprising: storing, in a storage unit, a plurality of usernames and a plurality of group names of groups which include the usernames, wherein the determining step includes: retrieving a first groupname from the storage unit based on the first owner information and asecond group name from the storage unit based on the second ownerinformation, and comparing the first group name with the second groupname, and the selectively controlling step includes: controlling thedecoloring unit to decolor the colorant if, based on the comparison inthe determining step, the first group name is the same as the secondgroup name.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the ownerinformation image includes document properties comprising one or moreof: an expiration date, a sheet printing date, a sheet printing place,and a sheet content, and the selectively controlling step includescontrolling the decoloring unit to not decolor the image and the ownerinformation image on the sheet based on the document properties.
 9. Amethod of processing a sheet printed with decolorable colorant, themethod comprising: scanning a surface of the sheet, the surface havingan owner information image printed thereon with decolorable colorant,identifying a first owner information based on the owner informationimage; receiving input of a second owner information; determining acorrelation between a user corresponding to the first owner informationand a user corresponding to the second owner information; determiningwhether to decolor the sheet based on the correlation; and controlling adecoloring unit based on the determination of whether to decolor thesheet.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: if the usercorresponding to the first owner information is determined to be thesame as the user corresponding to the second owner information, thedecoloring unit is controlled to decolor the sheet.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein: if the user corresponding to the firstowner information is determined to not be the same as the usercorresponding to the second owner information, the decoloring unit iscontrolled to not decolor the sheet.
 12. The method according to claim9, wherein: the owner information image includes document propertiescomprising one or more of: an expiration date, a sheet printing date, asheet printing place, and a sheet content, and the controlling stepincludes controlling the decoloring unit based on the documentproperties.